Who we are
A dedicated team
De Urbanisten is a renowned office for urban design and landscape architecture based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The office was founded in 2009 by Florian Boer and Dirk van Peijpe. Today, De Urbanisten consists of an international team of about twelve urban designers and landscape architects. The team is curious by nature, dedicated and highly motivated to contribute to a sustainable and attractive living environment for both people and other earthlings.
Climate adaptation and ecology
A strong focus on climate adaptation and ecology is present in all projects of De Urbanisten. We have built a rich and diverse portfolio around these critical themes throughout the years. The Watersquare is representative of the work of De Urbanisten. It’s an iconic public space where temporary rainwater storage is integrated into an urban plaza. The square is now a proven typology for sustainable urban water management worldwide and has been copied in other cities such as Copenhagen. Also, in other projects, this climate-adaptive and a nature-based approach leads to innovative types of urban landscapes, for instance, the Tidal Parks and the small Sponge Garden, both in Rotterdam.
All scales matter
De Urbanisten easily moves through all relevant scales of landscape design; from more small-scale designs for parks and squares to urban design and city-wide strategies. Ground-breaking is the Waterplan for Antwerp, a policy for a water-sensitive city and a prelude to climate-adaptive plans for the different neighbourhoods. The research and design for a water-sensitive Mexico City and the climate adaptation strategy for Rotterdam are as well exemplary of our vision of city-wide strategies.
Also, in our urban plans, De Urbanisten puts landscape first. We developed an extensive set of climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive measures applicable to the design process. The proposals for the new city centre of Nijmegen, the redevelopment of former industrial areas in Schiedam and Delft and the Schijnpark in the city of Antwerp are good examples of this.
Research and design
We attach great value to research by design as a way to innovate the profession. Exemplary is the study ‘Sponge City Rotterdam’, in which the transition from a draining city to a sponge city is investigated, tested and integrated. In addition, we gained international recognition for our study ‘New Meadowlands’, a winning project in the ‘Rebuild by Design’ competition in New York, where nature-based solutions for New Jersey were researched and designed.
We just do it
To make our innovations visible and experienceable, we sometimes take action ourselves. For instance, in the ZOHO-district in Rotterdam, where De Urbanisten initiated and realized a small guerrilla raingarden, together with the local community. More recent is the Sponge Garden, a test site for soils, vegetation and water management. The garden is developed, monitored and maintained by De Urbanisten.
All inclusive
The bluegreen infrastructures is a key focus in the projects of De Urbanisten, not only contribute to a climate-adaptive city but also to a more nature-inclusive living environment. In addition to all kinds of people, animals are also welcomed in our projects. Here, the “Hofbogenpark” resonates the most to this: a two-kilometre long park on the roof of an abandoned railway will welcome people, hedgehogs, toads, butterflies, bats and bees. The layout and the vegetation are designed with this all-inclusive character in mind.
